My brothers and I were born in Georgia and while the majority of our upbringing was spent in the Chicago suburbs, the South still had a way of infiltrating our lives – particularly through my mother’s classic sayings like, “Never show up with your arms a’swingin,’’ (translation: bring a hostess gift). Gems like this one joined strict enforcement of writing thank you letters and the ironclad rules of never swearing in the house, never slamming doors and NEVER talking back.

Here in New York, it’s always refreshing to meet a belle who introduces me to more Southern idioms. Last week, while at the swim launch party of her client, Zinke, my publicist friend, Allison, was getting excited about her birthday party that weekend. “Bring your hollow leg!” she exclaimed, and when my face registered I had NO clue what she was talking about, she followed up with a, “You know, like extra room to store the liquor you drink…”

Added to the list of proverbial boats I missed amid my early departure from Georgia, would be the innate sense of style my southern lady friends seem to exude: charming, polished, well-edited ensembles with just a touch of sweetness. Often, it’s not so much what they wear, but the way they wear it: a life-goes-on attitude — but why not make that life luxe?

With the hope that this je ne sais quoi rubs off just a bit, I’ve profiled four of my most chic Southern sisters to let me in on a few of their style secrets:

1. Know the rules, and always overdress. Southern women are chronically overdressed. A little piece of me dies inside every time I see someone wearing a hooded sweatshirt or Uggs when I’m attending a Broadway show or at church on Sunday morning. There are rules for what to wear and when, and it’s important to know what they are, even if you plan to bend them a little.

2. Don’t worry if you forget someone’s name. In the south, we all call each other “honey” or “sweetie” not because we’re nice, but because we all forgot each other’s names.

3. Always send an invitation. The printed card is currency in the south. The southern hostess always sends an invitation, no matter the occasion.

1. Dress how you want to dress, in the manner that most makes you happy. Dressing for others, or trying to emulate trends, is often the first step on the road to fashion disaster; it's fine to be trendy, but try to give it your own spin.

2. You can never own too much jewelry — but you can certainly wear too much.

3. Embrace comfort. It's never worth it to put yourself through hell just to look amazing; most of the time you'll end up wearing a grimace, which will instantly become your most noticed accessory. And it ain't a good look.

Julie Bensman is a seasoned digital strategist and content marketer with over a decade of editorial, brand and agency experience. She also hosts a travel show on BBC called RSVP Abroad. Originally from Chicago, Julie now splits her time between Los Angeles and New York. She enjoys skiing, pickling vegetables and supporting her local public library. You can find her on Twitter @JulieBensman.